If you’re creative and enjoy 'zhooshing' things up or perhaps, want to give your home a makeover, then SIT2LRN’s Certificate in Interior Decor is an ideal course of study.

The 12-module course offers students step-by-step learning, starting with an introduction to the elements and principles of design. From there, you explore the dimensions of colour and light, learn about the history of furniture styles and gain an understanding of architectural features and heritage.

Facilitator Gillian Graham says the Level 4 certificate is so comprehensive, graduates should be able to get work in the retail sector or even be self-employed. “It’s a practical course – very hands on. They learn how colours go together, about fabrics, furnishings and about both commercial and home design. They learn about paints, wallpapers, carpet and other flooring too.”

There are a couple of units that focus on presentation techniques and students also learn how to read building plans and how to draw a two-point perspective to scale.

The last few papers cover budgeting, business practices and the fundamentals of business. These are incorporated into a major design project students must complete during the final two units. “By the end, they should be able to run their own business as a consultant.”

And although naturally creative and artistic types will do well learning interior design, Gillian says the course is structured to cater for all abilities, with each module building on the skills and knowledge learned  during the previous ones. “It’s very logical so, even if you’re not natural arty, as long as you have some confidence drawing, you’ll do well.”

The certificate course is so popular, there are three facilitators for the four intakes each year.

Highlights of the Certificate of Interior Decor:

• Introduction to the elements and principles of design
• Learn and apply the process of design
• The dimensions of colour and light – learn about colour schemes and how light will act on different colours
• Architectural heritage and features
• Textile knowledge and how to use it to select furnishings
• Presentation techniques
• Space planning and model construction
• Kitchen design and storage solutions
• Professional practice and business skills

Career opportunities:

• Graduates will be able to present their own interior décor design ideas and solutions to clients. They could work for themselves or in a related industry doing sales or merchandising.